#Reynolds Affair

[yr-obedt-cicero]

I find it funny how the musical portrays Eliza as resentful towards Alexander when really she was more pissed that Monroe wouldn't keep his mouth shut lmaoo

[john-laurens]

I've been seeing a claim circulate that Hamilton's family burned all of the Hamilton-Laurens letters after their deaths due to the romantic content of those letters. This is not true. Many of the letters have survived to this day, with the original versions being maintained in the Library of Congress and other libraries. Some microfilm scans are available to view online, and the transcripts of most of these letters are available on Founders Online. I'm not quite sure where this belief is coming from. My best guess is that people are confusing two things: 1) the scene in Hamilton where Eliza burns all of her letters to Hamilton, and 2) the line "I must not publish the whole of this" written on the April 1779 letter from Hamilton to Laurens. In regards to the latter, it is true that some future editor (presumably John Church Hamilton) wrote that line at the top of the April 1779 letter. This was likely due to the very romantic (and in some places, overtly sexual) nature of the letter. However, there is no evidence that anyone proceeded to burn the Hamilton-Laurens correspondence in order to cover up their relationship. In fact, much of their correspondence was published in collections of Hamilton's writings, as compiled by his son John Church Hamilton. While some of the Hamilton-Laurens letters are missing, we cannot say that they were purposefully destroyed. It's possible that they were simply lost to time (misplaced, damaged, etc.).

[pub-lius]

Do you have a post on Maria Reynolds? I haven't been able to find much information about her, I read she became a nun or something after the scandal??

i know i do, i am struggling to find it because tumblr's search function has and always will be ass

RAHHH I CANT FIND ANY OF THEM fuck this im giving you a short history of her life because i love you with all my heart

DISCLAIMER: i fucking hate Ron Chernow, especially for his treatment of Maria Reynolds in his book, but him and wikipedia are all I have right now and my relationship with him is very toxic pls help. also this post will discuss heavy things like forced prostitution and ron chernow absolutely butchering this subject so just be aware of what is best for you

Early Life

Maria Reynolds was born as Mary Lewis on March 30, 1768 to Susannah Van Der Burgh and Richard Lewis, who was Susannah's second husband. She had eleven siblings, and they did not have very much money, and were likely a pretty average 18th century white family in America, with poor literacy rates, struggles with debt, and the women being taken advantage of. They lived in Dutchess County, New York.

Maria was literate, but not well educated. This is something she was strongly mocked for by both her husband, Hamilton, Chernow, and other men. Well, I guess Hamilton didn't really mock her, but he definitely looked down on her for it. Fucking asshole. She also seemed to have very strong mood swings from a young age, and this could have been something psychological, like a mood disorder, or it could have been physiological or hormonal, such a menstrual disorder that was never properly treated because women's issues were not taken seriously at the time, mental or physical. This is also something she was mocked for.

Maria was married off to James Reynolds, a Revolutionary War veteran, on July 28th, 1783 when she was 15 years old. James Reynolds often lobbied the government for money after the war, foreshadowing his debt problems and later exploitation of his underage wife for money.

Together, the couple would have one daughter, Susan, named after her grandmother, who was born on August 18, 1785. Maria showed herself to be a devoted mother who would do anything for her daughter, including putting herself in harms way to make sure she didn't face the same fate. Unfortunately, Susan would also later be in an unhealthy relationship, despite her mother's efforts.

Maria Lewis was always described as very emotional, innocent, smart, and pretty, despite those who attempted to degrade her.

Men before Hamilton

It was early in her marriage when she was looked down upon by men, beginning with the son of her first landlady in Philadelphia.

"Her mind at this time was far from being tranquil or consistent, for almost the same minute that she would declare her respect for her husband, cry and feel distressed, [the tears] would vanish and levity would succeed, with bitter execrations on her husband. This inconsistency and folly was ascribed to a troubled, but innocent and harmless mind... [Reynolds] had frequently enjoined and insisted that she should insinuate herself on certain high and influential characters- endeavor to make assignments with them and actually prostitute herself to gull money from them." -Richard Folwell, August 12, 1797

Her complicated feelings about her husband allowed men to reduce her to being deceptive, however it shows that she was torn between her bias towards her husband, who had been around her and influencing her throughout her formative, adolescent years, and the things he was asking her to do, including prostituting herself.

These escalated to more than requests for her to prostitute herself to rich men into demands and threats. Reynolds became physically abusive to his wife if she did not comply with his demands to sleep with and extort rich men. Eventually, this became a pattern, and she became known as a prostitute who slept separately from her husband so she could entertain her midnight visitors, when essentially she was being human trafficked by her husband at the age of 18.

There is evidence to suggest that she only slept with Hamilton when Reynolds threatened to physically abuse her daughter, Susan. I'm not going to go into too much detail about the affair because I believe it's over done, but I am going to discuss how Ron Chernow talks about this woman, and the consequences of victim blaming.

Ron Chernow Hates Women

Ron Chernow discusses the Reynolds Affair in chapter 19 of his novel Alexander Hamilton. Already, he places some of the blame on Elizabeth Hamilton with the sentence "It was a dangerous moment for Eliza to abandon Hamilton,", even though he likes to put her on a pedestal so people think he's a feminist (Chernow 363). You're not a feminist, Ron, you're a 75 year old incel, and I feel bad for your wife.

Chernow introduces Maria Reynolds by stating her age at the time of the affair (23), and for some reason, making up the fact that her name is pronounced "Mariah"??? He gives no citation for this, so I'm assuming he made it up to make her seem more slutty. Her name was Maria. Actually, her name was Mary, but if we had any link between her and the Christian figure for maternity and purity, well that wouldn't work with the portrayal of her as a disgusting, crazy, lying whore, right?

Chernow uses words like "doleful tale", "fanciful", "conspired", and "trickster" to describe Maria, but gives no proof of her malicious intent towards Hamilton. He portrays Hamilton as vain, however a savior to Maria, and she simply HAD to have been in love with him because of how good of a person he was. Ron Chernow manipulates Maria Reynolds' character to fit his personal belief that there are two kinds of women: good, pure, Christian homemakers, and uneducated sluts who deserve their mistreatment from men (Chernow 367).

Even though Ron Chernow finds it more comfortable to believe that Maria worked in cohorts with her piece of shit husband, and that they together decided to use Hamilton for his money, the truth is that she was a severely abused woman throughout her entire life, especially at the hands of James Reynolds. Her manipulation of Hamilton was not to gain something, but to prevent her and her daughter from being abused. Chernow glosses over this, dismissing it as something she made up to secure a divorce, but it was proven true in a court of law. Chernow's famous cognitive dissonance strikes again: the US government is very securely made with a magnificent justice system, yet uneducated, illiterate women can manipulate it to get... a piece of notarized paper! Yeah, don't let this senile old man write any more books. Thanks.

Aftermath

The backlash from The Reynolds Pamphlet, published 1797, would haunt Maria for the rest of her life. She remarried twice, once to Jacob Clingman, who is another piece of shit who should have his dick guillotined, and the other time to Dr. Matthew (idk his last name) who she was a housekeeper for. She allegedly wrote her own pamphlet, but never published it. Idk anything about that.

Maria would raise her two grandchildren after her daughter's untimely death. She also changed her name back to Mary, becoming Mary Matthew for the rest of her life. She was devoutly religious, joining the Methodist Church, but not a nun. She died loved on March 25, 1828. And if there isn't someone on earth who loves Mary Matthew, then I am dead.

Here's your Maria Reynolds post. I love her so much, and I will defend her until I have no voice left, my fingers can't write or type, my eyes can't move, and my legs can't walk. She deserves so much better than what she got and how she's been portrayed. Vive Mary Lewis.

[absolutely-not-my-main-blog]

I sincerely think if Dennis Reynolds and Jeff Winger were to makeout, it would benefit them both immensely, in fact, it’d be good for their health

[candy8448]

I hate to say it but...

"Say no to this" from Hamilton- is kinda a bop

Dude is singing about cheating on his wife and im on the side just vibing

Its like, a guilty pleasure... i feel like i should not be enjoying this song so much but... its also pretty good tho D:

(Read tags)

[rmsstevielol]

One thing I despise is when people base “facts” off of a musical 🥰

[trishaisthedoctor]

can the sunny podcast move like those try guys and proceed without rob at this point i really dont gaf

[pollywiltse]

One of the most enjoyable bits of historical RPF porn is when you start wondering about logistics - but how did George Washington get hold of a cock cage? What was that conversation with the blacksmith like?

Also when your mental images of the characters are their most famous - and usually least-flattering - portraits. The copy of the Athenaeum Portrait Wikipedia is using at the top of their George Washington article does make him look like he's about ten seconds from locking someone in a chastity device, but less in a sexyfuntimes way and more in a "There will be no more sex scandals in this administration, Alexander Hamilton" way.

[publius-library]

HI

CAN YOU TELL ME EVERYTHING YOU KNOW ABOUT THE REYNOLDS AFFAIR AND PAMPHLET

I sure can.

First, I want to talk about Maria, because I think a great injustice is done to her in general.

Maria Lewis, which is what I will be calling her, was born in New York City on March 30, 1768. She was one of eleven children, six half siblings and five full. Maria grew up literate, but largely uneducated. She was married to James Reynolds when she was 15, on July 28, 1783. He had served in the revolution in the commissary department (which, if you know anything about the commissary, it was virtually useless), and was several years older than Maria. He was constantly asking the government for money. They had one child, Susan, born on August 18, 1785.

Before 1791, James Reynolds moved with his wife and child from NY to Philadelphia. In summer of 91, Maria visited Alexander Hamilton at his residence in Philadelphia asking for help because her abusive husband had abandoned her. Hamilton had the means to assist her in moving back to NYC, and arranged a later meeting to give her the money. He arrived at her boarding house, she brought him to her bedroom, and, according to him, “Some conversation ensued from which it was quickly apparent that other than pecuniary consolation would be acceptable.” She was 23 years old. He was 34.

The affair continued throughout the summer and fall of 1791 while Hamilton’s family was in Albany, NY. After a short while, Maria informed Hamilton that her husband sought reconciliation, and she agreed without ending the affair. She obtained an interview for Reynolds, in which he applied for a position in the Treasury, which Hamilton refused.

Hamilton exhibited that he wanted to end the affair on December 15, 1791, when Maria sent him a letter from Reynolds.

“I have not the time to tell you the cause of my present troubles; only that Mr. Reynolds has wrote you this morning and I know not whether you have got the letter or not and he had swore that if you do not answer, or if he does not see or hear from you today, he will write to Mrs. Hamilton. He has just gone out and I am alone. I think you had better come here one moment that you may know the cause, then you will the better kmow how to act. Oh, my God, I feel more for you than myself and wish I had never been born to give you so much unhappiness. Do not respond to him; not even a line. Come here soon. Do not send or leave any thing in his power.”

The affair ended for a time in December, but began again after Reynolds needed more money, and manipulated Maria into restarting the affair. Reynolds would write to Hamilton as a “friend”, and Hamilton would send $30. The last loan was in June 1792.

Reynolds was imprisoned for forgery in November of that year, and wrote to Hamilton for assistance, who denied all requests for money from both Reynolds and Maria.

James Monroe, Frederick Muhlenberg and Abraham Venable, rivals of Hamilton, visited Reynolds in jail after being made aware that he had contact with Hamilton by Reynolds’ partner in crime. Reynolds didn’t mention anything specific, but hinted at Hamilton’s public misconduct. The congressmen then interviewed Maria who maintained Reynolds’ accusation of speculation on Hamilton’s part.

James Callendar, a newspaper writer, also heard of this accusation, and published it in The History of the United States for 1796. Hamilton rebuked it with the Reynolds Pamphlet that cleared his name, but also placed the majority of the blame for the affair on Maria. It is likely that the events stated in the Pamphlet are accurate, however Hamilton phrased the narrative to make Maria appear as a villainous seductress, in order to keep public scrutiny away from himself. He would have known to do this, because it was the same thing his mother’s first husband did to his mother before his birth. These situations are very similar, however the consequences Rachel Faucette faced were much harsher, which is likely why Hamilton felt justified in mirroring Johann Lavien’s actions.

It is clear Maria is a victim in this circumstance, as she was very young, and was being emotionally, financially, and possibly physically abused by Reynolds. It is also likely that Reynolds threatened abuse to her daughter if she did not comply with his demands. She was publicly scorned after the Reynolds Pamphlet. Hamilton is not the victim.

In 1793, Maria Reynolds petitioned for a divorce with the assistance of Aaron Burr, who offered her and her daughter a place to live in order to fully escape Reynolds. Before the divorce was finalized, she went to live with Reynolds’ partner-in-crime, Jacob Clingman, whom she married in 1795. She settled in Alexandria, Virginia, then Britain after facing public scrutiny over the Pamphlet.

Maria became the housekeeper of Dr. Matthew. Peter Grotjan reported that he had met Maria, and she claimed to have written a pamphlet of her own with her side of the story. It was never published, and there is no other evidence of it’s existence. In 1800, Susan was sent to a Boston boarding school after Burr petitioned William Eustis to help her.

Maria married Dr. Matthew in 1806. Susan Reynolds came to live with her mother in 1808, and spent several years in Philadelphia. Susan was unhappily married several times. She had two daughters.

Maria Lewis died as Maria Matthew on March 25, 1828.

Hope this helps!

[irenic-raccoon]

If I made an IASIP self insert would you still think I'm somewhat sane

[erstwhile-punk-guerito]

[yr-obedt-cicero]

Was Maria Reynolds part of the plan to " blackmail " Alexander ? Thank you.

Not initially, I don't think. The painful truth is, of course, we'll never know for certain. Especially in regards to the Reynolds affair, with all of the theories surrounding it and no one knowing what's true or not due to Maria's missing letters, and her own pamphlet being lost to time. [x] So, all we have for solid proof is a bias pamphlet from Hamilton, and slandering newspaper extracts. The Reynolds Pamphlet was naturally a one-sided account, and written five years after the affair. Hamilton paints himself as the victim of James Reynold's and Maria's “con couple plot” to blackmail him. And many historians ultimately side with this notion that fits the narrative of the manipulation by a calculated and pretty woman, with her wealthy man prey. But it is my belief that Maria had initially wanted for it to be a traditional mistress situation with Hamilton, that was subsequently distorted into a form of Reynolds's blackmail.

Maria was a lower-class woman, who was seeking happiness and fulfillment through sexual acts, in order to feel loved and cared for. This was actually a common case for many women at the time;

There was another group of women who exercised sexual independence within post-Revolutionary Philadelphia—those who engaged in sex commerce. In many ways, their economic an sexual independence was the most obvious manifestation of female autonomy. Prostitution enjoyed an enhanced position within the community because the world of nonmarital sexual behavior had expanded. Amid the permissive sexual culture of the city, the behavior of those who engaged in sex commerce was less distinct. Women who engaged in sex commerce were more public than in the late colonial era but also more integrated into the broader sexual culture. Evidence from Philadelphia suggests that during the transition between the sexual system of the late colonial period and that of the nineteenth century, prostitution took on its most fluid and least exploitative form.

Philadelphia could not have been more different. Sex commerce prospered during the 1790s as part of the expansive, permissive sexual culture and was well integrated into the public and semipublic leisure world of the city. It was neither geographically segregated nor isolated from the urban centers. Bawdy houses occupied all regions of the city. There were bawdyhouses on the city's main streets and more modest establishments among its alleys. Sex commerce also took place in the backrooms of taverns, in the prison, and in the theater and often spilled into the streets. Women solicited men in the streets, mixing with the legitimate evening strollers, meeting men, and then retiring to rented rooms or bawdyhouses. Sometime they even engaged in sexual transactions in the city's alleys and abandoned lots. Much of this activity took place within the public view. Women called to men from their doorways soliciting their business, and other strolled about the street in pairs to meet men. Prostitutes were known on sight when they were seen shopping, socializing about the town, or entering the almshouse. The identities of their clients were also often common knowledge—many men were not concerned about secreting their behavior. Some demonstrated a striking disregard for being seen. One “well known gentleman,” Moreau de Saint-Méry tells us, “leaves his horse tied to the post outside one of these houses, so that everyone knows when he is there and exactly how long he stays.”

[...]

Sex commerce of the early national period was part of a continuum of illicit sex, and it was not always easy to distinguish which encounters crossed its fluid boundaries. Prostitution operated in many of the same social spaces as other forms of nonmarital sex, integrated into these worlds of socializing and public amusement. Women brought men to the same disorderly houses for prostitution that couples frequented for illicit sex.

[...]

People from all walks of life had sexual encounters that were not markedly different from those of prostitutes and their clients. The woman who supplemented her income by periodically strolling the streets to meet a man who would pay for a sexual encounter had much in common with the woman who frequented taverns accepting food and drink from a gentleman with whom she later had sexual relations. Gifts of goods, food, or drink were part of the sexual exchange in many relationships. Prostitutes who worked the theater expected the gentlemen in the boxes to treat them to the wines and liquors served during performances. This custom was not that different from the gift giving that accompanied adulterous liaisons, where lovers presented gifts and sometimes cash to their partners. Like the women of the town, women who engaged in adultery were treated to gifts by their lovers.

Source — Sex Among the Rabble: An Intimate History of Gender and Power in the Age of Revolution, Philadelphia, 1730-1830, by Clare A. Lyons · 2012

If Reynolds was away, or out of town, Maria took lovers. Folwell even says; “Letters were frequently found in the Entry inviting her Abroad;—and that at Night she would fly off, as was supposed to answer their Contents.” [x] with her husband constantly off, Maria supplemented her unhappy way of living by becoming sexually involved with other men and accepting “gifts” such as money. And it is likely that James Reynolds rather utilized this to his gain when discovering her affairs, and twisted it into instead pimping of his wife for prostitution.

It is also reasonable to assess that Maria was likely looking to become Hamilton's mistress - and mistress, only - because of the state she was in. Maria was recorded to have said plenty of times that she was being mistreated by her husband. Hamilton says that Maria told him; “that her husband, who for a long time had treated her very cruelly, had lately left her, to live with another woman, and in so destitute a condition, that though desirous of returning to her friends she had not the means—that knowing I was a citizen of New-York, she had taken the liberty to apply to my humanity for assistance.” [x] Folwell sides with this distressing description claiming;

Her mind at this time was far from being tranquil or consistent, for almost at the same minute that she would declare her respect for her husband, cry and feel distressed, [the tears] would vanish and levity would succeed, with bitter execrations on her husband. This inconsistency and folly was ascribed to a troubled, but innocent and harmless mind. In one or other of these parox-ysms, she told me, so infamous was the perfidy of Reynolds, that he had frequently enjoined and insisted that she should insinuate herself on certain high and inf l uential characters—endeavor to make assignations with them and actually prostitute herself to gull money from them.

Source — Alexander Hamilton, by Ron Chernow, page 366

A secondary source also claims Reynolds to have been abusive towards his “children”. [x] So, it is possible in this case that Maria was suffering from Reynolds's abuse, alone in Philadelphia, and isolated from her friends and family in New York. And during the times where cruel acts like physical and verbal abuse towards your wife were normalized to a certain extent—that no one would really intervene unless it started to violate another's subjective barrier of morals or condemnation. Or in many cases, if it was deducted that the woman in question was blameless and undeserving (But this is a misogynistic society we are talking about, so how likely of a case is that in general?). So, overall I wouldn't deem Reynolds above abuse towards his wife, or that Maria was merely playing an act for sympathy, there was probably some truth there. With all that in mind, it really seems like Maria engaged in sexual acts with others, or “prostituted” herself, in a way to look for a better love life. And that she may have truly been hoping for a better life with Hamilton. She was likely aiming to be kept as his mistress, but did not succeed in the end due to her husband's involvement. As I said, it was typical for a time when sexual autonomy and economic sufficiency were often intertwined. And Hamilton clearly wasn't entirely against this idea, or that he wouldn't have an adulterous lover for a night—He was 34 at the time, and perfectly capable of making conscious decisions. He was ready to give the money and do the deed. Although, I would argue he wouldn't be too keen on anything much more than a night, or the summer until his family returned, since he rather embarrassedly throws cash at Reynolds to cover his tracks rather than be calculated about it (He seems to have had something against affairs, as they were just against his moral and marriage values which I have gone into before). But also this was exceedingly common for men of all classes at that time, and he was in no way out line in this regard. He knew people who did the same like Governor Morris, so it isn't like this idea was new to him. And it was only when Reynolds started blackmailing him, and that it threatened his marriage and his political career, did he suddenly back down.

There can be much speculation if Maria truly hoped Hamilton would be the one sliver of light in her dark world, and if she truly cared for him, or if she truly felt loved in his presence. Nonetheless, if any of these sentimental feelings did exist, they definitely didn't survive the release of the pamphlet. And I can only assume how crushing it must have been for Maria who suffered the most in the aftermath. She did sign her letters off to him as “Mari”, which could also imply much—Did he call her Mari? Did she call herself that to reel him with guilt and fake intimacy? Which is another consideration, if Maria even cared for Hamilton or his well-being, but rather envisioned him as nothing but profit.

It also shouldn't be completely dismissed that Maria may have been in on the whole scheme. After all, it is suspiciously convenient that James moved his family from New York to Philadelphia, and in the neighborhood possibly in - but definitely not long before - 1791. It is speculated due to Reynolds's tendency toward intrigue and money troubles that the move was made for financial reasons, but it is curious that the affair took place not too soon after. And as mentioned before about Maria seeing several different men, I doubt Hamilton was the only man they plotted against, if they were indeed a con couple. It isn't confirmed that Maria wasn't in on the whole ordeal, or that she wouldn't have agreed to the form of financial gain. I think the only opposition here would be that Reynolds and Maria were separated at the time of the start of the affair, and all that I said before.

Moving on, Maria's divorce from James doesn't come as a surprise. Women - especially the lower class ones - got divorced all the time. While plenty of abuse was tolerated, and even expected to be tolerated, being prostituted by your own husband definitely hit the line. And it was likely Maria's indication of finally breaking away from what she so desperately had been trying to previously. For Maria it was possible for her to go on to marry up the social ladder, to become a respectable woman. And eventually she did, changing her name, and settling down with another man. Without much insight on what was truly her goal—The easiest conclusion I can deduct is that Maria - like many women of her class - was left in a poor marriage from a young age, and used emotional and sexual fulfillment, along with economic stability, because that was all she had at the time. And through her own efforts and in spite of hardship, eventually achieved her goal.

But, in the case that they were a couple of con artists and Maria was not looking for men for comfort, and was truly not being abused; then the divorce was likely because the scheme ended in failure, and still it would make sense that Maria would leave him.

Basically, in my own opinion, I don't think Maria was in-on the scheme at first, I think she was looking for wealthy men to douse her in tender affection and money to make the best out of what she had. But due to her husband exploiting the situation, she was entangled in a blackmailing affair that tarnished her name later on. But with the possibility of this being wrong, it could have also likely been a scheme considering how smoothly things played out for the Reynolds' in the beginning.

Hope this helps!

[gayestbinnie]

ryan reynolds had a song written and produced for rob mcelhenney’s bday and then he professionally recorded himself singing and then filmed a music video for said song utilizing all of rob’s favorite people including his favorite Eagles football player …. ok! hmm.. yeah!! ..?

[letterboxd-loggd]

The Affairs of Dobie Gillis (1953) Don Weis

December 22nd 2022

[downthetubes]

Broken Frontier announces the winners of its 20th annual awards for comics

The leading comics website Broken Frontier, run by Andy Oliver, has announced the winners of its 20th annual BF Awards, voted for by its readers and the BF team

The leading comics website Broken Frontier, run by Andy Oliver, has announced the winners of its 20th annual BF Awards, voted for by its readers and the BF team. The winners include a number of British creators, Beck Kubrick, Michael Molcher, Paul B. Rainey, Emma Reynolds and David Roach among them. The BF team feel the winners and nominees reflect a wide range of the socially conscious and…

[lascenizas]

The Last Movie I Watched...

The Catered Affair (1956, Dir.: Richard Brooks)